APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF PERMISSION

TO PERFORM MARRIAGES IN THE STATE OF NEVADA

County Clerk's Office

Third Floor

Clark County Courthouse

P.O. Box 551601

Las Vegas, NV 89155-1601

Telephone 702-455-3156

For shipping services to the Clark County Courthouse,

other than U.S. mail (i.e., express/overnight mail):

County Clerk's Office

Clark County Courthouse, 3rd Floor

200 S. 3rd Street

Las Vegas, NV 89101

Chapter 122 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) governs the issuance of Certificates of Permission to Perform Marriages. According to NRS 122, you must be a licensed or ordained minister in good standing within your organization; your denomination or organization must be incorporated, organized or established in this state (except for out-of-state ministers); and your ministry must be primarily one of service to a congregation or denomination. Click on NRS 122 to view the chapter of the Nevada Revised Statutes.

NOTE: There is no provision in the Nevada Revised Statutes for a person other than a minister to obtain a Temporary Certificate. This includes judges and justices of the peace from other states. The statutes require that judges/justices must be in their own jurisdiction to perform a marriage. Some other states allow a temporary permit for civil ceremonies to be performed by notaries and other civilians. NEVADA DOES NOT HAVE SUCH A PROVISION.

To obtain a Certificate of Permission to Perform a Marriage in the State of Nevada, please contact the Clerk's Office.

APPLICATIONS:

In order to apply for a Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages in the State of Nevada, obtain an application at the Clerk's Office. Applications cannot be faxed. They must be mailed or brought into the Clerk's Office.

NOTE: Please pay particular attention to item # 16 of the Application (item #15 of the Temporary Application), regarding the use of the word "INCIDENTAL." Many applicants are not clear on what this means. The word "incidental" means a minor accompaniment of something or liable to happen as a consequence of something. We cannot change the wording of the question, as that is the way it is addressed in the Nevada Revised Statutes.

Regular Certificate of Permission (Local Ministers only)

For first time applicants, previous certificate holders who have been removed, changed churches or denominations.

Temporary Certificate of Permission (Out-of-State Ministers only)

For out-of-state ministers. NRS 122 provides that a licensed or ordained minister in good standing with his denomination or church whose congregation is in another state may perform marriages in the county if authorized to do so by the county clerk. A separate authorization is required for each marriage performed. Such a minister may perform not more than five marriages in this state in any calendar year.

Retired Status Certificate of Permission (Local Ministers only)

For current certificate holders wishing to change their certificate to "Retired Status" or applicants who wish to file an initial application for a "Retired Status" certificate. NRS 122 states that the fact that a minister is retired does not disqualify him from obtaining a certificate of permission to perform marriages if, before his retirement, he had active charge of a congregation within this state for a period of at least 3 years.